SIKKIM AND BHUTAN TRIP

ARRIVAL 

After arriving at Bagdogra airport/NJP railway station, you will drive towards Gangtok . On your way there, you can smell the freshness of the green lush hills. 

When you reach Gangtok, you can check in at your hotel. Rest for a while and then walk around the main town and indulge in some shopping or just enjoy the pleasant weather.

Overnight stay in Gangtok.

SIGHTSEEING

• After a sumptuous breakfast, get ready to explore Gangtok:
• Banjhakri Waterfall
• Bakthang Waterfall
• Tashi View Point
• Ganesh Tok
• Hanuman Tok
• Handloom & Handicrafts Centre
• Enchey Monastery
• Flower Show
• Do Drul Chorten (stupa) & Research Institute of Tibetology
• Ranka Monastery
• Go for an evening stroll at M.G. Marg to mingle with the locals of Sikkim.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Gangtok.

EXCURSION TRIP TO TSOMGO LAKE AND BABA MANDIR

• You will be travelling to Tsomgo Lake (3,000 mtrs.), 32 kms from Gangtok. 
  
• An oval-shaped lake spanning 1 km long and 15 mtrs deep, this lake is very sacred for the local people. You can also enjoy the mesmerizing view of the lake from the ropeway. 
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• You will also visit Baba Mandir, which is a distinguished sightseeing place of Sikkim. 
• This “Mandir” or shrine is dedicated to “Baba” Harbhajan Singh, a soldier of the Indian Army who died near Nathula Pass.

You will spend the night at the hotel in Gangtok. 

Gangtok to Lachung

Early morning after Breakfast departure for North Sikkim, You will be travelling through the hills in between the mountains

• Naga Falls 
• The seven Sister falls
  
• Check in Hotel, evening leisure at  Lachung 

You will spend the night at the hotel in Lachung. 

• Early morning after breakfast you will be visiting the Yumthang valley which remains covered with snow in winters
• Hot water spring
• Drive back to Lachung for lunch and proceed to Lachen 

You will spend the night at the hotel in Lachen. 

Lachen - Gurudongmar Lake - Gangtok 

• Early morning drive to Thangu a remote high altitude village of Tibetan Nomads
• Gurudongmar Lake which is very close to Tibet Border, the one of the Highest and biggest fresh water lakes in Sikkim.
• Breakfast at Thangu Valley and continue proceed ahead to Lake 
• Visit Gurudongmar lake and Drive Back to Lachen for Lunch and after lunch depart for Gangtok 

You will spend the night at the hotel in Gangtok. 

Gangtok - Phuentsholing 

• After breakfast proceed to Phuetsholing (Border Town)
• Check in Hotel and evening Leisure 

If time permits proceed for immigration.

You will spend the night at the hotel in  Phuentsholing.

PHUENTSHOLING -THIMPU

• After your breakfast you will proceed towards Thimphu. On the way you can enjoy the scenery on the way to Thimphu. 
• You can have lunch on the way. If you reach Thimphu early you can start your sightseeing.  
• Later in the evening you can visit Tashichho Dzong: The Dzong is a Buddhist monastery cum fortress at the northern edge of Thimpu the capital city of Bhutan. 
• The Dzong was built on the western bank of the river Wang Chu, and has historically served at the seat of the Druk Desi or the Dharma Raja of Bhutan‟s government. After the kings assumed power in 1907 this post was combined with that of the king and Thimphu severed as the summer caital of the kingdom before becoming the full time capital of Bhutan. The original Thimphu Dzong (the Dho-Ngyen Dzong) is said to have been constructed in 1216 by Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa. And was later taken over by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo before the Dzong was conquered by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who found the Dzong to be too small and expanded it to what is now known as the Tashichho dzong is also called the "fortress of glorious religion." It was erected in 1641 and was subsequently rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the 1960s. The Dzong has been seat of the Royal government since 1952 and presently houses the Throne room and the Kings secretariat. The Tashichho dzong is also home to several ministries of the Bhutanese government, and the Central Monk Body which is the apex organization of the country's main spiritual order. The monument welcomes visitors during the Thimphu Tsechu festival which is held in autumn each year. The Dzongs main structure is a two striped quadrangle with 3 storied towers on each of its four corners

You will spend the night at the hotel in Thimpu.

THIMPU- PUNAKHA

• After breakfast you can visit following places and proceed towards Punakha later.
• Kuensel Phodrang The Kuensel Phodrang or the Buddha point is the world’s largest sitting Buddha statue, the statue is 167 feet high. The statue is situated on top of a hill overlooking the city of Timphu, it can be accessed by road and is about 15 minutes away from the city‟s center. 
• The word Kuensel means everything is clear and from this place you will sure enjoy a great view of the Thimphu Valley on both sides. The statute will house a temple inside it; the statue and its adjoining car park and recreational center are currently under construction and is expected to be ready by December 2012. The statue is constructed out of bronze and is studded with many semi-precious stones. Since they are no factories in country that can make such a large bronze cast structure, statute is being manufactured in China and the pieces are brought to Bhutan and are assembled here. On the drive to the statue the steep winding hill road offers an unparalleled view of the city of Thimphu and is an excellent place to capture a view of the city especially after dark. A journalist once described the view as “seeing an osasis of light in the desert of darkness “as the city light of Thimphu shine very bright in an otherwise dark Thimphu valley.
• Motithang Takin preserve: The Motithang Takin Preserve also known as the Thimphu Zoo by many. It is a small natural preserve for the Takin Bhutan‟s national animal. 
• It was originally a mini zoo, but it was converted in a preserve later on as the Takin. The mini zoo contained a small number of Takin but the King of Bhutan later decreed that it was improper for a Buddhist nation to keep an animal in captivity. The animals were set free and the zoo was shut down, but for some reason the Takin refused to leave the area for the forests nearby. Instead the animals were frequesntly found roaming around the streets of the capital city in search for food. As a result the government decided to demarcate an 8 acre fenced location as the Motithang Takin Preserve. The preserve is a forested preserve that mimics the Takin‟s natural habitat, in addition to the Takin there are a few musk deer and barking deer that live inside the preserve. There are plans to expand the preserves collection to include other rarely seen animals that live in Bhutan, currently the preserve plans to add the Red Panda and the Himalayan Serow to the preserve.
• Folk Heritage Museum: The folk heritage museum was open to the general public in 2001 upon completion. It treasures troves of culture and rich Bhutanese heritage provide rich insights into the Bhutanese ethos. Try to schedule your visit during the morning hours since the museum is less crowded at that time and there is plenty of sunlight to go around. 
• The folk heritage museum is housed in a replica traditional Bhutanese house learn first-hand about Bhutan‟s rich cultural traditions, its deeply rooted heritage which spans thousands of years and the Bhutanese way of life. The tour of this almost living museum will also give you a glimpse onto how many rural folk of the country live today following the ancient Bhutanese ways.
• Memorial Chorten: Referred to as the Memorial Chorten, its actual name is Gongzo Chorten or Gyaldren Chorten. The chorten (stupa) is a chief landmark in the capital city and is also a most sacred place of worship for local people. 
• The idea of the chorten was conceptualized by the Third King His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck to ward-off negative energies. After His Majesty’s demise, the chorten was built in his memory by the 4th King and the then Queen Mother in 1972. Many old people come here early in the morning to circumambulate and say their prayers in the hopes of garnering enough good karma for their afterlife; they are joined by the middle and the younger generation in the evenings who also come to do either the same thing or to just relax their mind. The doors of this stupa remain mostly closed except on holy days. Inside, there are three stories and on each floor are statues of protective deities.
• You will proceed toward Punakha, you can stop at Dochula Pass which is (3,100 m).
• If the day is sunny you can get stunning views of the Himalayan ranges. The Dochu La Pass is probably the best known mountain pass in Bhutan it is located at an altitude of 3150 meter above sea level, the Dochu La Pass is about 30 kilometres away from the capital city Thimphu.
• On a clear day the pass offers visitors a spectacular view of the majestic eastern Himalayan Ranges.
• You can have a cup of hot coffee or tea at the pass which has almost become part of tradition for people travelling to and fro from Punakha to the capital city.
• You will find a small cafeteria at the pass that offers a chance for travellers to enjoy a hot beverage or a snack, it is located just off the road and overlooks the pass and is an ideal place to sit back, relax and enjoy the view.
• You will find another striking feature at the pass is the 108 Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens that were built for the well-being of all sentiment beings on earth. The 108 Chorten were built as a tribute to the Kings of Bhutan for their selfless service and leadership they offer to the people of Bhutan. These Stupas or Chortens also represent the peoples love, appreciation and loyalty towards the country’s King.
• Later proceed towards Punakha.
• You can do white river rafting here at Punakha (cost not included in the package)

You will spend the night at the hotel in Punakha.

PUNAKHA – PARO

• After breakfast you can visit following places and proceed towards Paro. 
• You will drive towards Punakha Dzong: The Punakha Dzong or the Pungtang Dechen Phortang Dzong (Palace of great bliss or happiness) is located at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and the Po Chhu River, combine to form the Puna Tsang Chu which in turn is a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra River. 
• You will get to know the history of the dzong from your guide. The dzong was constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1638 on the exact spot as prophesized by the Guru Rinpoche some 800 years ago. According to the prophecy of Guru Rinpoche “a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. Another legend associated with the Dzong is that of Zowe Palep, the architect of the Dzong received vision of the Dzong in his sleep. This vision got imprinted in the architects mind and enabled him to construct the Dzong without putting his plans to paper. 
• It is the second largest and the second oldest Dzong in Bhutan. The Dzong is home to some of the most sacred relics of the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism; it is also home to the sacred mortal remains of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Terton Pema Lingpa the great treasure discoverer of Bhutan. The Dzong has also served as the capital Bhutan till 1955 before the capital was moved to Thimphu. The Dzong is still the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (chief abbot) and the central monastic body and plays host to the annual Punakha Tshechu Festival which is very popular with the locals and tourists alike.
• You will have a short hike to Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility), it is dedicated to Lam Drukpa Kuenley (Divine Mad Man) and is the place from where Phallus  originated as the symbol of fertility and protection and can be seen everywhere in Bhutan, on house walls and roofs and altars. Childless couples usually go to this temple to get blessings so that they conceive and are blessed with a child.
• (NOTE: The temple and has some sexual depictions. You may want to reconsider visiting this place if you are not comfortable).
• Tamchog Lhakhang: Tachog lhakhang is a temple that is dedicated to the 13th century saint Thangthong Gyalpo, the iron bridge builder. This temple is located across the river about 15kms from the Paro towards Thimphu. In order to get to the temple one must cross an iron chain bridge, one of the few remaining of the many that Thangthong Gyalpo built. Crossing this very old bridge with its swaying and undulating movements can be quite an experience.

You will spend the night at the hotel in Paro.

PARO

• You will have early breakfast and you will drive up to the base of Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). It is the most famous and sacred site among all the places in Bhutan. 
• Guru Padmasambhava is said to have come riding on a flying tigress to this place and meditated in a cave for 3 months, it wasn’t until Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal came to this place and meditated that it gained the popularity that it has now. The present structure is said to be built in the 15th century but was destroyed by fire in 1998 and has been restored.
• You have to walk about 2 hours till the top through wide pathways which was built during the restoration works. 
• You will also find a tea point after one hour climb from there you get a very good view of the monastery, they also serve lunch here. From there it’s about another 45 minutes climb to the 2nd view point and the highest point in the hike.
• Evening explore local Market 

You will spend the night at the hotel in Paro.

PARO - CHELALA PASS - PHUENTSHOLING

• After Breakfast Proceed to Chelala Pass
• Visit chelala pass and proceed to Phuentsholing 
• Evening check in Hotel  

You will spend the night at the hotel in Phuentsholing 

PHUENTSHOLING –BAGDOGRA

• You will proceed towards bagdogra from Phuentsholing.
• Your trip concludes. Head back home with lots of pictures and awesome memories.